Whatever Became of Sin?
(Sermons, List 6)
Text: 2 Samuel 12:7a & 13a:
7a. Then Nathan said to David,
"You are the man!" 13a. Then
David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."
Introduction
The Bible is history, or His Story, much
of it written in advance, and it records an unfinished account - of
man’s response to privileges under God’s direction. It contains rules we should
obey. It records the results of refusals to cooperate (which
God calls sin) and it
forecasts the fate of unrepentant sinners.
Most of us have little idea how bad sin is or what it costs
both God and His creatures. It is certainly an inappropriate response to God’s
plan. Sin ended Adam’s daily fellowship with God and man’s dominion of earth.
It still wreaks havoc in lives it touches, almost without distinction between
perpetrator and victim.
It’s a sad story but it has a beautiful ending for those who
find new life in Christ. God provided salvation for us but we must obey Him
while we await our home going. All of us have missed the mark, we will miss it
again, and our disobedience will cost us something, especially when we refuse
to call it sin.
Dr.
Menninger
Karl Menninger, one of the outstanding
Psychiatrists of his day, wrote a book entitled, "Whatever Became Of
Sin?" Dr Menninger looked at worldwide problems like gloom, apprehension,
depression and discouragement, and he said all of them are caused by sin. Then
he made it personal, calling for everyone to recognize the need to avoid sin in
order to prevent self-destruction. And he was right, of course. Sin is a
worldwide problem but sins are committed by individuals. And we can easily
destroy ourselves individually if we do not find the antidote for our
condition.
Current problem
The word “sin” has almost disappeared
from our vocabulary but sin remains a serious problem. That’s what God calls it
when men fall short of His glory and, of course, He doesn't like it a bit.
(Romans 3:23). Let’s recognize
sin, for the rebellion it is and for what it does to us today. Rebellion
produces guilt and guilt prevents us from regaining Adam’s lost fellowship with
God.
When you begin to understand what's wrong with you, why you
are empty, frustrated and unfulfilled, you will want to know what to do about
it. To obtain relief from the burden of your sin, and escape the condemnation
it brings, admit your guilt, forsake your sin, and turn to God in repentance. (1st John 1:8-9). He alone can provide the sound mind that results from having your sins
forgiven and forgotten. (2nd Timothy 1:7).
Example
An example of sinful conduct Christians
should avoid is recorded in my text, 2nd Samuel 12. David, the son of Jesse who became the
second King of Israel, was an exceptional person. God called him “a
man after My own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14). That doesn’t mean David was perfect. It
meant God was pleased because David wanted so much to please Him. How do I know
that? Read David’s Psalms. Psalm
16:8 says: “I
have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not
be moved.” His intentions were clear. David was
anxious to please God in every thing. In Psalm 19:14 he wrote:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your
sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.”
Unfortunately, David let go of his resolve on at least one
occasion. Like us, he was not always strong enough to overcome temptation. At
this time his sins included adultery, murder and deceit, all of which he knew
were wrong. But he admitted his guilt only after God’s prophet confronted him.
You may be familiar with the story but I’ll relate it anyway, from Second Samuel 11.
The
account
Israel’s Armies were busy trying to
protect their territory. King David,
who should have been leading them, was at home, taking it easy. (Verse
1). That was a mistake
for several reasons. First, as Israel’s leader, David was supposed to fight
their battles. That’s the main reason why the Israelites demanded a king
initially. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel;
and they said, No, but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like
all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight
our battles. (1 Samuel 8:19-20).
Since David did lead Israel’s soldiers into battle
ordinarily, perhaps this instance of neglect bothered him. Verse 2 says he
became restless one evening and took a walk on his roof. That led to mistake
number two. When he saw a young woman bathing herself on her roof he chose to
watch the performance.
One thing led to another. David inquired about Bathsheba, discovered her husband was away
with the army, and decided to engage her in a little friendly adultery. And, it
seems, the lady didn’t object. Subsequently, when Bathsheba advised David she was
pregnant, He tried, unsuccessfully, to cover his guilt and then arranged to do
away with her innocent husband. Uriah was killed. Bathsheba mourned her
husband's death. David took her to his house. And they awaited the baby’s
arrival.
Without
excuse
Perhaps
David thought he would get away with it?
Most sinners manage to fool themselves for a time, even when others know
about their sin. As Karl Menninger indicated, many of us never admit guilt. We
choose to blame some one, or some thing else for the problems we create.
Note. David’s sins were totally without
excuse. They were not the acts of a man with no way to relieve his sexual
frustrations. He did not live alone like a hermit. He had at least six wives in
Jerusalem at the time. (Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith,
Abital, and Eglah. (2 Samuel 2:2-5). And David knew Uriah the Hittite
as a loyal soldier. 1st Chronicles 11:14 named Uriah as one of the King’s
mighty men.
Confrontation
Look at
the account where Nathan confronted David and pronounced God's judgment on his
sinfulness. It is found in 2nd Samuel 12:1-14. I’ll read part of it,
beginning with verse nine. 'Why have
you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the
sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the
sword of the people of Ammon. 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from
your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite
to be your wife.' "Thus says the
LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I
will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he
shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 'For you did it secretly,
but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'" Then David
said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to
David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
"However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the
enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall
surely die." (2 Samuel 12:1-14):
Guilt
King
David was guilty as charged. His
despicable sins were not covered as he hoped; he would not get away with them
after all. He was about to learn the truth of something Paul wrote many years
later: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he
will also reap.” (Galatians
6:7).
God did David a favor when He sent
Nathan to confront him. It gave the sinner opportunity to admit his guilt and
find the peace he could not have received in any other way. Nearly a year had
passed between the sin and the confrontation. Those months were filled with
guilt and despair for David and for Bathsheba. I can say that because I know
how guilt works. Peace is simply not available to sinners until their sin is
confessed and forsaken.
If you are guilty of un-confessed or
un-acknowledged sin, admit it. You may as well. Those sins are not hidden
nearly so well as you might think. Seek forgiveness for your own good. Why
should you carry the load any longer than necessary? God promises us this: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you
search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Consequence
Although
God forgave David’s sin, spared his life, and received him into heaven
eventually, David would not be delivered from the results of his mess before he
died. He would suffer a lot of humiliation, persecution and heartache. Several
other members of his family would be devastated as well.
The Bible describes the results of
David’s folly. The events were similar to stories in television soap operas: The
baby born from adultery died. (2 Sam 12:18).
David's daughter, Tamar, was raped by her half brother, Amnon (2 Sam 13:14), and Absalom killed Amnon. (2
Sam 13:28-29). Absalom
committed adultery with ten of his father's wives (2 Sam 15: 16, and 16:22) and many Israelite soldiers were killed when he tried to do
away with his dad. David was heart-broken when Absalom was executed for his
treason. (2
Sam 18:14). Several
years later, Bathsheba’s son sentenced Absalom’s brother, Adonijah to die. (1 Kings 2:13-25). All of this because a man who knew better took something
that wasn't his and tried to hide his sin.
That's how it is with sin; it always
affects innocent people in one way or another. Sometimes the innocent ones
suffer as much, or more than the guilty ones. David was especially troubled by
his family’s trials because he was responsible for them. His children suffered
primarily because of his transgressions.
Now let's get back to Karl Menninger's
question; "What ever became of sin?"
I.
Whatever Became of the Reality of Sin?
Sinners still suffer the results of their rebellion. Innocent people
still suffer from sins they had nothing to do with. Men have been inherently
sinful since Adam. As you should know, men are not sinners because they sin;
they sin because they are sinners. All of us are desperately in need of God’s
grace that provides salvation through Jesus. “How shall we escape
if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
Reality
There are at least three good ways to learn about the reality of sin.
From observation, from experience, and from the Holy Spirit.
A. Observation.
Check the daily news and what do you find? Crime! Crime,
against people, crime against property, and crime against society in general. Governments
may deny belief in God but they cannot deny reality. Violating God’s commands
generates a need for policemen to catch sinners, jails to lock them up, and
guards to keep them there.
You believe in sin, don’t you? Of
course you do. What else forces you to keep your doors and windows locked and
your valuables out of sight? Do you know why our society is so crime sick
today? Criminals expect to get away
with it. Guilty ones are not prosecuted vigorously or punished appropriately. As
the Bible says: “Because the sentence against an
evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is
fully set in them to do evil.” (Eccl. 8:11).
B. Experience.
Check your experiences.
Are there things in your life that can be called sin if you face them
honestly? Listen when you talk; pay
attention to what you say. Does your
speech betray you? Do you lack concern
for others while being over concerned with self? It might be unpleasant to
discover that character trait in yourself - but not as unpleasant as having
someone else tell you about it.
C. The Holy Spirit.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach the reality of
sin. John 16:8
says, “And when He has come, He will
convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
Thank God for
conviction. Face the reality of your rebellion. Like David, you will feel
better after you admit your sins and let God put them behind you. David said: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute
iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.” (Ps. 32:1-2).
II.
Whatever Became of Regret Over Sin?
Nathan confronted David. David admitted his guilt and expressed
regret. Psalm 51 shows the depth of his
remorse. Read it next time you fall prey to personal sin.
Why
should we regret sin?
A.
Sin
hurts God.
1. God created us for companionship with
himself. He wants us to enjoy the relationship, too, but we must be in right
standing with Him in order to do so. God really loves us. When we begin to
understand His intention in creation, perhaps we will quit denying Him the
fellowship He longs for. Consider the plea in Revelation 3:20, where Jesus
said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me.”
B. Sin is expensive.
The price was enormous. It involved the death of the
‘unique’ One. (Psalm 68:6 reads “solitary”). God sent His only begotten Son to live
among us in order to pay sin’s penalty. Sin is expensive for sinners too. The
cost can be measured in wasted resources, damaged lives, and lost opportunities
to enjoy God’s best. When left un-confessed and un-repented, sin will doom the
guilty one to an eternity without God.
C. Sin destroys sinners.
You can avoid sin’s ultimate penalty through redemption in
Christ. But you cannot sin intentionally without losing part of your potential.
King Saul, who preceded David on the throne of Israel, is a case in point. Saul disobeyed God, forfeited the throne for
his children, and ended up killing himself. (1 Sam. 31:3-6). Sampson is another example. He disobeyed God, lost his eyes and his
freedom, and died trying to make amends. (Judges 16).
If you want to accomplish something
worthwhile for God trust Him and stay close to Him. Be willing to exchange your
desires for His. Read your Bible daily and pray regularly. Cooperate as He
attempts to conform you to His will. He directs our endeavors only to the
extent that we allow it.
D. Sin spoils human
relationships.
Sin causes regret for our innocent loved ones as much
as they do for us. Adultery divides families; causing grief for betrayed
spouses and children. Nations fight because of selfishness. Innocent people
suffer irreparable damage. And families suffer the loss of loved ones in
unnecessary wars.
III.
Whatever Became of Repentance From Sin?
David finally recognized the horror of his rebellion. Godly sorrow led
him to repent and recommit his life to God. He said, “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to
the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’” (Psalm 32:5).
A. Repentance is important.
It’s difficult to understand why
Christians try to cover sin when repentance could free them from guilt and restore
them to fellowship with God. When David confessed and repented he asked God to
“Restore to me the joy of Your
salvation, And uphold me with Your generous Spirit” (Ps. 51:12),
and God did.
God used Nathan to turn David around.
Nathan relayed the message, telling the sinner, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel
12:7). God still
uses people like that. He might ask you to confront a sinner. If He does,
deliver the message promptly but do it with compassion, ‘lest you be taken in a
worse sin.’ (Galatians 6:1).
B.
Real repentance is profound.
True repentance doesn't end with acknowledgement and regret; it changes
directions and priorities simply because commitment to God displaces
selfishness.
C.
Real repentance produces results.
David’s new attitude generated actions that pleased God. He determined
not to sin again, and promised: “I will teach
transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” (Ps. 51:12). It’s a blessing to be free from condemnation. It’s a privilege
to walk according to the Spirit,
no longer a slave to the demands of the flesh. (Rom.
8:1).
But no one is perfect. And denying our
capacity for sinfulness fools no one. As John’s Epistle says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a
liar, and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10). Born-again Christians do not sin as a way of life. Submission to Christ's Lordship helps in
keeping them on the straight and narrow. But Christians can stray. And God
provided a remedy: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 10:9-10).
Bridge
A road
into New Orleans, Louisiana, crosses Lake Ponchatrain. The bridge that spans it is twenty-six miles
long. I've traveled the road and
crossed the bridge twice. At various intervals there are
"Turn-a-rounds" for people who must stop and go back without having
to cross and re-cross the entire bridge.
Christianity has turn-around points
too. When The Holy Spirit prompts us to forsake sins and turn to God we can
turn around by confessing our sins and sinning no more. Remember, God forgives
repentant sinners. He does not
forgive sins that are hidden or called by another name.
You
Are you a
born-again Christian, a member of God's family by adoption? Be careful how you answer. Someone once told
Jesus His relatives waited out‑side, wanting to see Him. (Luke 8:20). His reply left no room for rebellious family members. And it did not include people who ignore His
commandments, pretending they don't matter. According to Him, His ‘mother and brothers’ hear God’s word and
obey it. (Luke 8:21).
If Jesus Christ is not your
Savior, admit your sin and ask forgiveness now. God will forgive you for Jesus' sake, and you will discover the
joy of salvation that David longed for. (Ps.
51:12). When
Jesus is your Lord He will lead you in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3), and free you from the condemnation that comes from serving
self.
- - - - -
David E.
Beneze, Canon City, CO 81212. See page 206 of Pastors Annual for 1980. Latest
update 06/09/2007.
Page last updated 4:02 PM 6/11/2007